Commanding Jewel Suffers Barrier Trial Defeat

Commanding Jewel suffered a surprise defeat in a barrier trial at Cranbourne this morning, but according to trainer Leon Corstens is still on track to contest the 2014 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on June 21.

Commanding Jewel has not been seen at the races since she took out the Let's Elope Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Commanding Jewel was entered in the opening barrier trial of the day over 1190 metres at Cranbourne this morning and led in the early stages of the trial, but looked to tire in the final stages and ended up finishing one and a half lengths behind Sharna Valli-trained Use The Lot.

Trainer Leon Corstens told TVN that he was satisfied with the performance of Commanding Jewel and said that she would head to Queensland for the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival for the Tattersall’s Tiara if he shows no harm from the barrier trial.

“She was a bit fresh early on and she ran out of puff a little at the finish and That was to be expected,” he said.

“She seems to have pulled up well and if she does, we’ll continue to plan for Queensland.”

Jockey Damien Oliver has partnered Commanding Jewel in the majority of her seven career race starts, including her dominant victory in the 2012 Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), and made the trip to Cranbourne to ride the daughter of Commands in the barrier trial this morning.

The leading hoop was not as positive about the performance of Commanding Jewel as Corstens and said that the three-quarter sister to glamour mare Atlantic Jewel may not be as forward as what connections had thought.

“I thought she was okay, but she got tired late,” Oliver said.

“Maybe she’s a little behind where they think she might be.”

Commanding Jewel missed the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival due to a joint injury, but returned to racing with a fair sixth behind Broken in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) before winning the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7.

The four-year-old was a chance of contesting the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), but had her spring campaign prematurely ended after she cut her hoof in the lead-up to the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and she was sent to the spelling paddock.

Managing co-owner Brad Spicer said last week that Commanding Jewel was a chance of returning to the races in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, but the mare is unlikely to contest the Group 1 event and could make her return in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m).

Author: Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.